Ironing device



R. G. MAYO IRONING DEVICE Oct. 18, 1949.

Filed May 9, 1946 INVENTOR Patented Oct. 18, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to pressing or ironing devices and has for its main object to provide efficient and effective means for pressing hollow or tubular portions of garments such as sleeves.

Another object of this invention is to provide a sleeve-ironing device which embodies a scissOr-like structure enabling the application of ironing pressure on the inside of a tubular portion of a garment.

Another object of the invention is to provide handle-controlled ironing members for insertion into sleeves or the like and to mount said members for universal ironing movement in a sleeve to facilitate an ironing operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide an ironing instrument of the character indicat ed which is adapted to be mounted on an ironing board or other suitable support whereby handlecontrolled ironing elementsare both respectively movable and movable universally to facilitate a sleeve-ironing operation.

My invention also has for its objects to provide such means that are positive in operation, convenient in use, easily installed in a working position and easily disconnected therefrom, economical of manufacture, relatively simple, and of general superiority and serviceability.

The invention also comprises novel details of construction and novel combinations and arrangements of parts, which will more fully appear in the course of the following description. However, the drawings merely show and the following description merely describes one embodiment of the present invention, which is given by way of illustration or example only.

In the drawings, like reference characters designate similar parts in the several views.

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of a sleeve-ironing device embodying this invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of one of the ironing elements.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view as taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

The ironing device shown in the drawing comprises, generally, a pair of arms 5 arranged on a pivot 6, means I urging said arms toward each other, handle means 8 for effecting spreading of the arms on their pivot, ironing elements 9 on the end of the arms, thermostatic or other control means In to control the heat of the elements 9, a standard or support II whereby the device is separably mounted on an ironing board I2 or the like, and a universal connection I3 mounting the device on the standard II. By grasping the handle means 8 and pressing them toward each other, the ironing elements 9 can be separated and caused to exert outward ironing pressing in a sleeve or like tubular portion of a garment and by bodily moving the device on the joint I3, said ironing elements can be disposed in any desired relation to the board I2 to facilitate an ironing operation.

The arms 5, each comprise generally hollow, preferably semi-circular sectioned members I4 which are straight from the pivot 6 to their connection with the elements 9 and are preferably outwardly bent as at I5 where they connect with the handles I6 of the means 8. Whereas, the members I4 may be made of metal and may conduct some of the heat imparted by the elements 9, the handles I6 are made of heat insulating material for safe and comfortable grasping by the user.

The pivot 6 may comprise a simple hinge pin or rivet substantially mid-way of the members I 4 so that the device resembles a pair of scissors. The means I comprises a spring which, in this case, is shown as a coil strung on the pivot and having arms exerting pressure on the members to'separate the handles and, consequently, urge the ironing elements together.

The ironing elements 9 are each similar but oppositely disposed. Each element comprises a tapered gradually curved metal shell or housing I'I enclosed by a plate cover I8, to provide a heating chamber I9 therein. Each housin is curved both longitudinally and transversely to have a nose 20 which gradually widens and thickens to terminate at a wall 2| connecting with the respective member I4.

An electric heating unit 22 is disposed in the chamber I9 of each ironing element. Said unit,

, in a generallyconventional manner, embodies a dielectric plate 23 and heating a wire or ribbon 24 wrapped therearound. Electric current passing through the wire or ribbon 24, beats the same to incandescence and thereby heats the housing II.

Electric current is brought to the unit 22 by conductors 25 which connect with a supply cord 26 through the control means Ill. The latter is shown as of the thermostatic type having a manually settable knob 21 for regulating the heat of the elements 9. The means I0 is shown as mounted on one of the members I4.

The standard I I comprises a post 28 which may be rearward curved to form a goose-neck oflfering a greater range of operation of the device. The post 28 is provided with a clamp 29 whereby it may be mounted, as shown, on the board l2. The means I3 is provided on the upper end of the post which is formed with a spherical seat 30 for a ball or sphere 3| carried by the lower of the members [4. The seat 30 is separable by providing a clamp plate 32 held in place by a bolt 33 to facilitate mounting the device on the standard II. If desired the device can be dismounted from the standard and used separately therefrom.

The device is simple in use. The elements 9 are introduced into the interior of a sleeve or the like, the handles l6 are grasped and pressed together to spread said elements and the ironing operation is performed by suitable movement of both the garment being pressed and device. Simultaneous pressing is accomplished at two opposite portions of the sleeve to hasten the operation and obviating pressing creases in :the sleeve.

While I have illustrated and described what .I now regard as the preferred embodiment of my invention, the construction is, of course, subject to modifications without departing .firom the spirit and scope of my invention. I, therefore, do not wish to restrict myself to .the particular form of construction illustrated and described, but desire to avail myself of all modifications that may fall within .the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described .my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

'1. An ironing device comprising, in combination, asupport adapted for .separa-ble connection with an ironing board or .the like, a scissor-like unit comprising a pair .of hinged arms each having an ironing element on one end and a handle on the other, a ball and socket mounting the unit on the support, a heating unit in each element, and means for conducting controlled electric current to each unit to heat the same to incandescence, said latter means comprising a manually operable thermostatic control unit carried by the scissor-like unit.

2. A device .for ironing tubular portions of garments for normally urging said fiat faces into engagement, each element comprising a tapered longitudinally and transversely curved housing shell and there being a heating unit within each shell, a support adapted for separable connection to an ironing board or the like, a ball and socket connection between said support and the pivoted spring-urged means, handles on said latter means for manually moving the tapered and curved housing :shells apart after insertion of the same into 'a tubular portion to iron said tubular portion, and means for conducting controlled eleccurrent to said heating units to heat said housing shells.

3. A device for ironing tubular portions of garmmts comprising a pair of similar ironing elements each .formed to have a flat face, pivoted and spring-urged means connected to said elements iorinormally urging said flat faces into engagement, each element comprising a tapered longitudinally :and transversely curved housing shell and there being a heating unit Within each shell, .9. support adapted for separable connection to an ironing board or the .like, a ball and socket connection between said support and the pivoted spring-urged means, handleson said latter means for manually moving the tapered and curved housing shells apart after insertion of the same into a tubular portion to iron said tubular portion, and means ,for conducting controlled electr-ic cur-rent to said heating units to heat said housing :shells, said latter means comprising a manually operable thermostatic control unit car ried by the pivoted spring-urged means.

RUBYGARNET'I MAYO.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 599,295 Havell Feb. V15, 1898 860241 LNootbaar Jan. 1, 1907 21086317 Lattemann July 13, 1937 2,153,503 Reingruber 'et -al. Apr. 4, 1939 2,184,375 .Beede Dec. 26, 1939 2,328,135 "Gack Aug. 31, 1943 

